Male adolescent sex offenders against children: similarities and differences between those offenders with and those without a history of sexual abuse.

This study compares a defined sample of male adolescents (n = 36) with regard to their personal development, family characteristics and the types of offence they committed. Adolescent sex offenders with (n = 16) and without (n = 20) a history of sexual abuse who had offended against children were investigated during ongoing criminal proceedings by means of questionnaires and intelligence tests. The most important characteristic that distinguishes the two groups from each other is the more frequent absence of the parents of adolescents who committed sexual offences against children and had a history of sexual abuse. The consequences to be drawn from these results with regard to aggressive sexual delinquency in adolescence are discussed and suggestions are made with regard to further avenues of investigation.